Gas mileage on new(er) bikes

[beechfront]

the XS11 is the first bike I've owned, and I guess I'm pretty impressed by the fuel economy. Especially when economy was probably not a primary concern when designing these bikes.

I was just wondering what some of the newer bikes are getting for mileage - since fuel economy is becoming more an more important every year i assume they put a little more thought into that area nowadays.

[Mike Hart]

Interesting you should ask, since I just figured my mileage for the 956 miles Gary sixtysix and I have put on since he got here. My 99 Bandit 1200 with performance mods averaged 44.32mpg, and we weren't being bashful with the throttle by any stretch of the imagination.

BMW K1200LT, an 850 lb bike, gets in the low 50's. (I had one)

I'll stick to these first hand reports, let others chime in.

Oh - my XJ without fairing got 35-40 depending, now with a fairing I lost a couple mpg, 33-38 usually, with an occasional spike to 40 if I keep it at 55mph. I try to avoid that whenever possible

[Shack]

Hello,
My 2001 Bandit 1200S with 125 Mains and chain drive average 45-48 hwy and twisties 40-44 depending on pace...My old 1979 xs with 2 over stock mains averaged 38 42 FWIW.

Shack

[sixtysix]

My Bandit got around 50 on the Highway at steady throttle, but only 35-40 in serious twisties. The Triumph gets 38-43 depending on the application of the happy stick....

[strom]

OK guys... you're gonna have to convert these yourselves.

My XS with previous exhaust did bout 6.5 l/100km, PO reported 8 l/100km.
85 Kawasaki GPz 600R (ZX600R) bout 5 l/100km
84 moto guzzi V35 bout 3,5 l/100km
Friends ZZR 1100 bout 5.5 l/100km
Friends new ZRX 1200 bout same as ZZR.


LP

[Robert Haller]

On a 700 mile ride in the mountains (Deals Gap, Cherhola Skyway, Blue Ridge Parkway ) this past weekend I averaged 40.5 mpg on my 79 Special.

[mobro]

It is interesting that most of you report better mileage on the highway, my experience is just the opposite.

My 79 1100 SF with windjammer fairing gets about 35 mpg on the interestate (75 miles per hour) and around 43 on the twisties. And I'm riding it for all it has on the curves - really nailing it.

I figured the wind load must be a very big factor at high speeds.

[Robert Haller]

Originally posted by mobro
It is interesting that most of you report better mileage on the highway, my experience is just the opposite.

I think that they mean better highway mpg verses city stop & go driving. Any continuous riding is going to yield better mpg and mountain roads or twisties should be best since as you noted you encounter more wind resistance at greater highway speeds.

[mitch]

conversion

Strom, thats 43.5 miles per gallon not bad !

[strom]

Re: conversion

Originally posted by mitch
Strom, thats 43.5 miles per gallon not bad !

Yep... pretty impressed myself...
Not the last ride tho... burnt bout 1/5th of the tank of gas and 30-40cc of oil...
Im in the process of replacing valve oil seals.
Having trouble taking out the valve guides to.
I'll report back with properly adjusted carbs and stuff... replaced exhausts since then.

LP